pinup fashion

Specifically vintage gloves that are small enough for my stubby hands. They look smart, come in a trillion styles and colours and make you feel like a lady. They are also the one part of my wardrobe that gets consistently noticed.

But since our mothers were freed from the social expectation of hats and gloves, we’ve forgotten how to wear them! Gloves were an integral part of dressing for many eras, but the majority of questions I receive are from lovers of 1940’s – 1960’s fashion. So here, my darlings, is a beginners playbook for the wearing of gloves – information courtesy of several 1950’s fashion etiquette brochures.

When to wear gloves

Gloves should be worn on the streets of cities and large towns.
They should be worn when driving or travelling on trains, planes or other public conveyances.
Gloves should be worn for church and formal occasions including weddings, luncheons, dinners, garden parties or receptions.
The hostess should also wear gloves while she is receiving guests at these functions.

When not to wear gloves

Please remove your gloves to eat, smoke, apply makeup or play cards.

Glove Etiquette

If you are lunching in a restaurant remove your coat on entering but retain your hat and gloves. Removeyour gloves when you are seated at the table.

When attending a party with food or hors d’oeuvres turn your gloves back at the wrist or remove one while eating. ( This is where those gloves with wrist buttons come into play )

When attending an informal event, remove your gloves on arrival and leave them with your coat.

Always remove your gloves completely when seated for a meal. Try to do so discreetly, a lady does not make a spectacle of removing her gloves.

Gloves are left on while shaking hands.

Bracelets are the only jewellery that should be worn over your gloves.

Which gloves do I wear?

Day Gloves

Short gloves in cotton or nylon come in lovely styles. Consider bright polka dot prints for the races, and embroidered or lace-trimmed gloves for summer parties.

Black kid leather is appropriate for city sightseeing and theater in metropolitan settings.

Crotchet or string gloves for casual garden parties and fairs in the country, or at the beach.

Leather gloves are wonderful in winter, especially for shopping and also driving.

Evening Gloves

The appropriate length of glove can be chosen according to the length of your sleeves – the shorter your sleeves, the longer your gloves.

White and off white, including ivory, beige and taupe, are the traditional colors for opera gloves. these pale colours are appropriate for virtually any occasion on which opera gloves are worn.

Black Opera Gloves should not be worn with light-colored dresses, but can be worn with black, dark-colored or bright-colored clothing.

Black gloves are also considered the most elegant with evening dress.

Long coloured gloves should really be worn only with dresses of a coordinating colour scheme.

Opera gloves should not be put on in public but should be put on in the privacy of your own home. If they must be removed in public please do so discreetly. ( I can only imagine this was included in 1954’s brochure as the sight of a woman peeling off an opera glove could drive a man crazy.)

Of course, these are the fashion rules from the era our beloved gloves are from. Modern women have the freedom to disobey or obey them as they please. Personally I find the subtle nuances of wearing vintage clothing part of the experience, so I hope these guidelines will help you confidently don your gloves like the retro beauty you are! Have fun and be bold!

With Style & Sass

Velvet DeCollete

Summer is arriving in the southern hemisphere, and it’s bringing BOOTY SHORT WEATHER!

Winter really isn’t my jam and I’m excited to swap my jeans and jumpers for short shorts and crop tops. In fact, I might swap some of my hard earned cash for the most perfect pair of bootie shorts I’ve ever tried on.

The Devel Branded Pinup Shorts

The Pinup Shorts from Devel Branded are vintage inspired, high waisted and hard working. But that’s not even the best part. Danielle of Devel designed these shorts to give you the perfect, peachy, heart shaped butt! My derriere has never looked perkier than it does in these shorts.

Now if you’ve read my Vivien of Holloway Swing Trouser review, you’ll know I despise bulky front zips. The Pinup Shorts sport a discreet invisible zip in the back, leaving the front nice and smooooooth. Shaped by front and back darts the shorts taper into a flat waistband, while a cuffed hem accentuates the shape of your cutie patootie.

Oh, and they have a back patch pocket that’s big enough to hold my phone!

Sewn in practical dark indigo denim, these are the kind of shorts that survive a week of camping without looking any worse for wear.
At $159 NZD they’re more expensive I’d usually spend on summer denim, but are around the same price as Pinup Girl Clothing or Vivien of Holloway shorts once you take into account the exchange rate and shipping. ( Plus they’re made to measure so you know they’re going to fit!)

So while the Pinup Shorts will set you back the same amount of dough as three pairs of Glassons cut-offs, there’s a few thing you need to keep in mind…

These will outlast cheap one season shorts, meaning you’ll never need to buy those three pairs. I’ve had a pair of denim shorts literally tear from the pocket edge to the waistband after a couple of wears, not exactly a great investment.

They’re ethically made and support a local small business. ( So your cash isn’t supporting sweat shops, child labour or environmentally dodgy practices.) This is important to me because I’m making an effort to shop more consciously by supporting brands that share my values.

Did I mention they’re made to measure? IE. will fit your curves like a glove, no pulling, squishing or baggy waistbands here!

Velvet DeCollete

A weekend getaway to windy Wellington requires a practical, yet stylish wardrobe. Something suitable for sunshine with blustery arctic breezes, waterfront strolls and eating waaaaay to much. I’m not one for wearing exercise gear when I’m not, well, exercising, so I opted for the clean lines and practical fabrics of 1940’s swing pants and a button down blouse.

* I wasn’t paid, sponsored or cajoled into writing the following post, just so ya know. However If you would like to sponsor, cajole or otherwise encourage me to review your product or service, please contact me here*

I gotta tell you, these trousers are something special. I’m short in the legs, long in the torso and there’s a large disparity between my waist and hip measurements. But the Vivien of Holloway 1940’s swing trousers don’t care.

Apart from being 4cm too long – like every pair of pants ever – they fit beautifully! I’ll be shortening them and widening the cuff in the process, but for this look I was happy to wear a comfortable heel.
Based on a WWII era pattern these swing trousers are ACTUALLY high waisted. As in they go well above my belly button. The wide waistband is firm and doesn’t fold down or scrunch up ( woooohoo!) and front patch pocket is cute, if not overly useful. But what really sold me is the side button closure. Leaving a smooth panel over the stomach, it’s both classic and far more flattering than a bulky front zip.( Can you tell I’m not a fan of front zips? Why are 90% of pants determined to make one’s tummy look bigger!?)

Pairing these green trousers with navy, off white and chocolate brown felt so right for a brisk oceanfront walk. I’m loving how the emerald green and deep blues reflect the water.

Oh and did I mention the pants are pretty easy care? I’ve just been chucking mine through the washing machine and line drying them. The fabric is durable enough for everyday wear without worrying about damage from pets or rough surfaces, which is great if you’ve got an energetic dog like mine! Wide leg trousers are such a versatile style. Wear them casual with a knit top, or dress them up with a sophisticated blouse and jewellery.

Velvet DeCollete

Earlier this year I met one of my Instagram followers in real life. We chatted for a while, and she said ” Oh my god you’re such a goof! I never would have guessed.” I was floored. How could you not know I’m a total dork?
That night I took a long look at my social media feeds – curated collections of professional photoshoots and event selfies – and realised how. My social media personality was unbalanced.

As a new pinup starting an Instagram profile, maintaining the illusion of pinup perfection seemed vital. As if real pinups never went barefaced, and people would judge me if they knew I couldn’t wear makeup everyday. But trying to present only one side of my personality created an imbalance.

It’s a like building a house of cards; pay too much attention to one side and the whole tower will topple.

Since creating my social media profiles my concept of pinup has evolved. I’ve relaxed into my own brand of pinup, melding my kooky personality and glamour girl aesthetic. But the idea that I could NEVER post a makeup free selfie stuck, making sharing my daily life a no go. As a result, people who haven’t met me in person probably have NO IDEA what I’m really like. I wanted to explore this personality vs appearance split in a photoshoot representing the concept.

A deck of cards seemed the perfect analogy – The wildcard Joker and the regal Queen of Hearts packed into one box. A vintage box of course!

Inspired, I started working on pinup outfits inspired by 1950’s playing cards. You can find hundreds of examples on Pinterest , some of them works of art in their own right. The frolicking jesters and jokers below inspired my Joker costume. Aren’t they just darling!?

The Beauty School Dropouts and photographer Tony McKay brought my idea to life . Their photoshoot packages offer cheesecake and screen siren posing styles in the same session, so I could shoot both costumes but have continuity in hair and makeup. On the day Miss Monique Sweet helped me get to grips with the cheesecake style so different to my usual alternative and glamour work (she also picked that bubblegum pink backdrop!). Letting my goofy side out in front of the camera was more challenging than I expected!

After choosing my two favourite images, Tony edited them onto vintage playing cards. A harlequin clad Joker and a bombshell Queen of Hearts – two faces of the same deck.

The photos are so cute! The jester set became my campaign images for Miss Pinup New Zealand 2017, with a couple of Queen images making an appearance. I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do with the cards yet, but I’d love to incorporate them into merch of some kind, what do you think? ( Seriously, would you like Velvet merch? Leave me a comment and let me know!)

Bright and crisp, the playing card photoset is markedly different from my other images, and I love how fun they are! Shooting with the Beauty School Dropouts and Tony had a bubbly, female focused environment. Fran working her makeover magic and pose coaching from Miss Viva Las Vegas 20 Monique makes it easy for anyone stepping out of their comfort zone. The photos were processed and delivered SUPER QUICK. 10/10 would shoot with the team again!

I’m talking about the Downtown Dame dress from Pin Up Girl Clothing, in bubblegum pink faux leather. I’ve had this dress for a year, but it took a few wears to decide how I really felt about it.I’ll keep it short and sweet – this dress is hot, as in you feel like a total babe made entirely of dangerous curves.
It’s also hot, as in if you’re in a warm environment you’ll sweat like cheese in clingfilm.
Personally I’m happy to make the trade off, but I’m also happy to keep it for the cooler months. Or air conditioned locales.

The only other downside to the Downtown Dame wiggle dress, is that when I wiggle, my thighs touch. In this dress they are permanently squished together and were painfully chafed by the end of a long sweaty night. I’d highly recommend wearing shapewear shorts or those wide soft lace thigh garters designed to stop chafing.
( I actually might get some of those garters just because they’re cute)

BUT… I 100% still love the Downtown Dame dress.

why?
Because it curves in all the right places. It accommodates my not-inconsiderable augmented bust, while still fitting snugly at the waist. The kick pleat extends high enough that by some miracle I haven’t torn it, as I have every other kick pleat in my wardrobe. The belt is nice and wide, and the straps are adjustable. And honestly, I feel like a vinyl wrapped fetish Barbie when I wear it.

So that’s my honest opinion of the Deadly Dames Downtown Dames dress. If you want it in the fake leather finish be aware that it’s a trade off. Will you be comfortable? Unlikely. Will you look and feel like the hottest badass to walk the earth? Undoubtedly.

If it’s any help at all I’m 5.3″ tall and my measurements are 33″ – 25.5″ – 36.25″. I’m wearing a size XS. If you’d like to read a plus size review of this dress there’s a fabulous one over at Curves to Kill.

PS: Don’t wear this at the beach.

Photos | Froger – otherwise known as the only man who can convince me to wear stilettos on sand

* I wasn’t paid, sponsored, given product or otherwise encouraged to write this review, just so ya know. *

Velvet DeCollete

As all collections do, it started with a single pair. A single pair of screw on earrings on a crowded op shop jewellery rack. And then suddenly, *poof* my single pair turned into a collection.

There’s something so special about vintage earrings. They have history, unique designs, that special something you don’t find on a department store shelf. They feel more… personal. Like the vintage earrings you choose say more about you than the modern ones. I don’t know exactly what my favourites say about me, maybe you can tell me?

So back to that first pair I bought. An unusual crowned skull design, with flowers around the eyes. Kind of weird and creepy looking, but impossible to walk away from. I’ve been carrying these around since I was 15, long before I fell in love with the style of bygone eras. They were a small purchase, only a couple of dollars, but they sparked a glittering addiction…

Deep pink paste jewels with glinting rhinestones and faux pearls, they came with a matching necklace. An anniversary gift from my husband, these drop earrings brim with sentimental value, and I love imagining all the special occasions they’ve adorned before ours. ( Their romantic colorway inspired the lining and embellishment of my Orchid dress! )

The glittering trays of Tock Tick yielded these beauties too ( Maybe I have a shopping problem?). The chartreuse frosted glass glows from within, and the gold tone leaved are dotted with tiny green gems. The contrasting textures make these my go-to for subtle glamour, plus their green and gold tones bring out my eyes! See ’em in action paired with my fifties inspired suit.

But these first pairs were just the beginning of my earring addiction. Gateway earrings if you would.
Next on my list of wonderful things? Fairytale forest earrings with cute teeny toadstools and flowers!

They look like miniature Alice In Wonderland gardens bursting out of their daisy shaped beds. Made in Czechoslovakia these deadstock earrings were still clipped to their original packaging card. ( Although time has taken it’s toll, so I’m very wary of worsening those pesky hairline cracks!)

Bigger is better right? More is more! More rhinestones that is.

Once again my green obsession comes to the fore, and I snapped these up like a magpie at Very Vintage Day Out 2016. I haven’t even worn them yet, but their graduated leafy greens make me happy. ( If you know what these would look great with, please let me know! I haven’t found the right outfit yet.)

These pearl clusters were a ‘new town’ gift to myself. After moving house for the seventh time in 10 years and feeling pretty sorry for myself, these were a grand total of $12 at a local vintage shop!

They’re just a classic, easy to wear style that works well with fifties and sixties clothes. Bigger clip on’s always make me nervous, but these faux pearls are light enough that I don’t stress about them falling off.
I prefer ivory and tea toned pearl jewellery to bright white, how about you?

At least my habit isn’t expensive. I pick up most of my treasures at markets and op shops. These Winged shaped earrings are so elegant, sweeping upward and sparkling against your hair without crowding your jawline. Perfection! ( In my dreams I wear these with clear, rhinestone encrusted cat eye spectacles and feel infinitely glamorous )

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my jewellery box and a small selection of my vintage earring collection. Please share your favourite earrings with me by leaving your Pinterest profile below, so I can add you to my vintage earring board!

With style and sass,

Velvet DeCollete

During the Miss Pin Up New Zealand application process I put a lot of thought into what ‘Pin Up’ and pinup culture really means to me.
What do I love about pinup?
What do I want people to know about pinup?

For me pinup culture is about more than fashion, more than photos and more than a homage to vintage beauty. For me, pinup is an opportunity to learn from the inspirational women of the past and the impact they had on our social, political and creative landscapes. By doing so we can become stronger, more confident women and better role models for those who follow in our footsteps.

Pinup is also a way for me to express myself through style, using clothes, hair and makeup to create the woman I want to be on any particular day. In a society that places increasing pressure on women to look a certain way, taking ownership of your body and personal style is incredibly freeing!

I entered Miss Pinup to share those views with as many people as possible, inspiring women of all ages to educate, encourage and empower each other.
I hope you’ll join me – whether you’re cheering from the audience or encouraging your mates to vote online in the People’s Choice category , your support will make all the difference!

Let’s Take a Look at the Ten Finalists!

The top ten finalists for Miss Pinup New Zealand have been announced!
They’re an impressive posse of pinups and I’m absolutely thrilled to say I’m one of them ( and that I can breathe again after holding my breath til the call came in! ).

This is my first pageant and I’m not going to lie, the competition looks intense. There isn’t a single pinup in that lineup who doesn’t deserve to win, so it’s going to take a lot of work to stand out!

Velvet DeCollete

I’m all about the tease. Silky nylon stockings, a wayward bra strap and a cheeky grin appeal to me far more than brazen modern erotica. Not to say the modern stuff doesn’t have it’s place, it’s just not my place.

The Villa showcases all that soft vintage deliciousness. Capturing only natural light, these photos have a dreamy homemade feel, like a lazy rainy afternoon. The kind where you turn up the heater and don’t bother getting dressed.

Unsurprisingly, we photographed this set in a small renovated villa. I enter the scene wearing a peach silk chemise and knickers with vintage nylon stockings, but it does get somewhat naughtier. For those wishing to indulge Froger has compiled the full set into luscious E-book, available here. At just $15 NZD it’s a steal for all my USA and UK fans!

Outfit

When I’m choosing clothes for a shoot I imagine the character I’m trying to portray. What would a cheeky 1950’s babe be wearing on a lazy afternoon with her lover? What would have her comfortable and confidant, laughing as he snapped some pin up photos with their Kodak Argus?

I settled on this soft peachy slip. It’s the kind of lingerie I’d put on under a dress, and then lounge around in after the dress hit the floor. Not wearing a girdle or suspenders was a deliberate choice. I think our flirty fifties character would have taken her girdle off by now, or maybe she’s only just getting ready to go out?

Velvet DeCollete

This outfit didn’t make the cut.
The cut for my Miss Pinup entry video that is. I wear the heck out of it every where else!

The Outfit

We shot the Tui dress as part of my glove styling video, but technical issues meant it didn’t make the cut! I absolutely love this formal pinup look though and I think you will too.

Like Tui feathers gleaming in the sun, this iridescent fabric makes for a next level little black dress. It was left over from my bridesmaids dresses seven years ago, so in true make-do style I designed a dress to fit the yardage I had left! Based on a 1950’s wedding dress, the boned bodice features horizontal pleats reminiscent of lorica sementata ( who else loves the concept of an armoured evening dress?). Floral lace froths over the sweetheart shelf bust, hand stitched on for perfect placement. For the most economical use of fabric the skirt is a gathered rectangle – I’d prefer a gathered circle skirt but there just wasn’t enough fabric!

To complement the fabric’s pink highlights I accessorised with vintage white and magenta costume jewellery. The glamorous necklace and earrings set are especially sentimental to me, an anniversary gift from my ever patient husband. Matching magenta orchids and my favourite vintage satin gloves finish the outfit with a pretty elegance.

Velvet DeCollete

Power dressing is nothing new. From the Phoenician purple robes of the Romans to 80’s power suits, we’ve been using clothes to boost our confidence and social standing for thousands of years. Which got me thinking; what does power dressing look like to a vintage loving gal?

For me the answer was a well cut suit. The suit worn by a film noir vixen perched on a detective’s desk, knowing he’ll do whatever she asks. A suit that says you’re 100% business, and 100% woman. A suit you’d wear to the funeral of your fifth wealthy husband mysteriously dies.

This is my first ladies suit ( I’ve made one trouser suit before ). Delayed for months due to costume commissions I finally finished it in time for the Duke and I’s seven year wedding anniversary. ( We stayed at Hotel Debrett and watched Horror at the Civic Theatre. ) There’s a tiny area of fit I’m not quite happy with in the jacket, but considering I had to fit it on myself I’m very happy with the result!

The Outfit

Two statement collars are better than one and the PUG Lauren top creates a striking inky black layered neckline.

No well dressed dame would be caught without gloves and hat. The beaded gloves were a serendipitous find at Tock Tick Vintage long before I started the suit. Their glossy floral beading was too pretty to pass up! The velvet tilt hat is from the Auckland Textile Fair. A band and bow of woven black straw circle the hat, and I added the veiling for extra sass.

Velvet x

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I'm Velvet, Miss Pinup New Zealand 2017, modern pinup girl and fashion designer living in small town New Zealand.

I've embarked on a journey of self exploration through style, inspired by the timeless femininity of vintage and the ever changing style of pop culture. I believe the power of fashion can change our lives, helping us step into each day as the most confident, happy and sassy versions of ourselves.

Join my adventure and follow this blog for my experiences with fashion, food, art and life. ( Because I'm well rounded. Like a biscuit.)